"Lord," said the old man, blinking at the officer of the Houssas, "you shall see a wonderful magic when I slay this woman, for my daughters shall be sons, and I shall be a well man."
Bones took the spear from his unresisting hand.
"I will show you a greater magic, Sokala, for I will give you a little white stone which will melt like salt in your mouth, and you shall sleep."
The old man peered from Lieutenant Tibbetts to the King of the Ochori. He watched Bones as he opened his medicine chest and shook out two little white pellets from a bottle marked "Veronal," and accepted them gratefully.
"God bless my life," cried Bones, "don't chew 'em, you dear old silly—swallow 'em!"
"Lord," said Sokala soberly, "they have a beautiful and a magic taste."
Bones sent the frightened girl back to the village, and made the old man sit by a tree.
"O Tibbetti," said Bosambo, in admiration, "that was a good palaver. For it is better than the letting of blood, and no one will know that Sokala did not die in his time."
Bones looked at him in horror.
"Goodness gracious heavens, Bosambo," he gasped, "you don't think I've poisoned him?"